Method of and apparatus for ascertaining the rate of flow of fluids



July I, 1930. c. s. PINKERTON ET AL A 1,769,358

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE RATE OF FLOW OF FLUIDS Filed April 1, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 U Ill M f a Ill a.

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TEMPERATURE I I l I I I l I l I 30 I 50 I m I '10 so so m no 120 no no ATTORNEY,

c. s. PINKERTON ET AL 1,769,358. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE RATE OF FLOW OF FLUIDS I Filed April 1. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 1, 1930.

v TEMPERATURE DEGREES F o l l I l I I I I l '4 so 85 no cABSOI-UTE TEMPERATURE I I, 1} I I l l a I I a I I \ll hi? INVENTORS. 5 $1M AX/MM/ .W h b o v 'rcnw nnun-aIozcaezs F l w ATTORNEY l l I 1 so as no I meters and the like.

Patented July 1, 1 930 "UNITED" STATES PATEN'E oriucr.

ENG, A. CORPORATION 01' DELAWARE PINKER'I'ON, O1! MILWAUKEE, AND WILBUR H. GREENWOOD, OF WAU WATOSA, WISCONSIN,'ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CUTLER- I mud or- AND Arne-Barns son Ascnarnmme' TEE mm or now or r'nurns Y Application filed April 1, 1922.. Serial m. 548,721.

This invention relates to method of and apparatus for ascertaining the rate of flow of fluids. More particularly the invention relates to method of and means for obviating certain errors which may ordinarily occur in the determinations eflfected by fluid The invention, while not limited thereto is particularly applicable to fluid meters of the character disclosed-and claimed in Patent No. 1,222,492 of April 10, 1917 toC. C.

Thomas.

Briefly described, the meter disclosed in said patent involves the'use of-a heater to supply heat energy to the stream of fluid whose rate of flow is to be metered a pair of resistance thermometers to take the temenergy input to the heater.

perature of the fluid respectively before and after heating and means. under control of said resistance thermometers for regulating. the supply of energy to the heater to-main-' tain substantially a constant temperature rise of the fluid, whereby the quantity of energy supplied to the heater m a given time constitutes a measure of the quantity of fluid flowing during the same time.

For control of the energy inputto the heater the resistance thermometersare connectedin corresponding branches ,of a Wheatstone bridge and a galvanometei is subjected to control by the bridgefor efi icting and controlling actuation of a rheostat or its equivalent for direct'control of Sue Such meters are adapted under most conditions to measure with great accuracy However the same when acting under certain special conditions are'subject to certain errors which, if uncompensated, tend to aflect unduly the accuracy of the measurements obtained.

- Thus the effective specific heat of the gas or other fluid being metered may vary considerably due to variation in chemical constitution of the fluid itself or to variation in its vapor content, such latter factor being in turn influenced by variations in basic temperature of the fluid, that is to say thetemperatureof the fluid immediately prior to metering and all'of such variations tend to reduce the accuracy of the measurements obtained.-

In Patent No. 1,261,086 of April 2, 1918 to J. C. Wilson and H. N. Packard are disclosed method and apparatus for temperature regulation particularly applicable to meters of the character specified for increasing the accuracy of the meter. I

According t?) said latter cited patent, a

so-called temperature diiference resistance is connected in series with one of the resistance thermometers while the meter isvin operation but is adapted'to be excluded from circuit during balancing of the Wheatstone bridge preparatory, to metering, whereby the value of such temperature difierence re; sistance becomes, as its name implies, a

measure of the temperature difierence which thesmeter is adapted automatically to maintain between the entrance and exit resistance thermometers. Said temperature difference resistance is arranged within the fluid stream and hence subjected to influence of Y variations in basic temperature of the fluid.-

Thus', being composed of material adapted to change its resistance with variationsin temperature within a given range, such resistance is adapted to exert, upon the temperature difference maintained by the meter,

a variable influence proportional to such changes in basictemperature, to thereby correct for certain errors or tendencies toward error due-to such changes.

More particularly the foregoing expedients provide adequate compensation for errors. due to variation in specific heat of the fluid per. standard cubic foot, with vafjigtlions in temperature between certam' jHowever, it is well known that gases luv ing access to water, as in the seals of ordi-,

nary gas producing and storing apparatus, absorb an amount of vapor which increases With increase in temperature of the fluid. Also since the specific heat of the fluid rises with increase in its vapor content, it follows. .that more heat is required to raise the temperature of a saturated gas one degree abovea, higher basic temperature than is required to raise the same of saturated gas w order to compensate for variations in vapor content and temperature above a given value a it is proposed to design temperature difierence coils so that with rising temperature the diflerence intheir resistance decreases, i. ,e., the combination must exhibit a negative slope characteristic, that is to say, the characteristics of a material adapted to reduce its resistance upon increase in temperature.

The present invention has among its objects that of providing a method /of and apparatus for providing in temperature responsive devices the aforementioned characteristics.

Another object is that of providing an improved method and apparatus for temperature regulation and determination particularly applicable to increase the accuracy of meters of this class.

' Another object is that of providing for automatic compensation for certain variations in'character, constituency or physical condition of the fluid to'be metered, which .variations tend to impair the'accuracy of.

the determinations effected.

Another object is that of providing for utilization of resistance materials having positive temperature co-efiicients for attainment of operative effects similar to those which would be exhibited by a temperature difference resistance having a negatlve temperature co-efiicient that is to say whereof the resistance tends'to decrease upon in .crease in temperature,

Another ob]ect is that of providing .the operation of meters and the like for factors influenc'in the specific heat per unit quantity of the and also'to correct for relatively wide variations in basic temperature ofthe fluid. Other objects and advantages will herein after appear.

In the accompanyin drawing wherein ar illustrated certain of the embodiments which the invention may assume in practice;

Figure 1-is adiagrammatic view illustrating a given embodiment thereof;

Fig. 2' is a diagrammatic view showing the-action of the device ofFig. 1; I Fig. 3 is'a dia 'ammatic lllustra'tion of a a slightly modifie construction; 66., Figs. 4, 5 and 16- are .curves illps'trating for utilization of'such efli'ect to compensate inllid. undergoing metering certain characteristic .curves pertaining to difference of,-for example, 1 in the fluid between the two similar resistance thermometers operating in accordance with the teaching of the Thomas patent aforementioned, under different. conditions of basic temperature of the fluid.

The curve 10 represents the successive values of the ohmic resistance of a temperature difference resistance which would completely and automatically adjust the temperature rise in the meter to compensate exactly for variations in. the amount of water vapor in the saturated gas from the standard quantity, such standard being regarded as the condition wherein the fluid is saturated at 60 F., and for other changes in specific heat of the gas induced or influenced by temperature variations.

It is not possible by any means at present known to devise a temperature difference resistance having exactly the characteristics adequately fulfills the requirements cover mg the region from approximately 100 to 130 F. t'empiature of the fluid. variations in chemical constitution and other .We have found that it is possible in pracma begut-iliz ed to simulate the action deictedeinzfthetwo straight line curves 11 and l Zindividfially and such arrangement will owgbefdescribed, it being understood that temperatures of the fluid between bstantially 55 and 100 F. one combina- I "131011 of resistances is tobe employed, whereas, for higher temperatures a different combination is to be employed.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawing the same illustrates certain essential ele- 1 ments of a meter of the type aforedescribed such elements comprising a conduit 13 for the flow of fluid to be metered and an electrical heating element to be supplied, subject to suitable control, from a suitable source of electricalenergy, as indicated by lines L L Functionally similar resistance thermometers and 16 are arranged within the conduit to be subject respectively to the temperature .of the fluid before and after passing the heater 14, said resistance thermometers being connected in a Wheatstone bridge as shown and in a manner common to such meters. The resistances 17 and 18 constitute the other two legs of the Wheatstone 5 bridge and are preferably fixed resistance equal ratio coils each having a resistance about equal to the resistance of one of the resistance theremometers 15 and 16. An adjustable balancing resistance 19 provides for compensating any inherent or accidental inequalities in resistance of the two legs 15 and 16 015 the bridge.

The-heating element 14 .is connected to lines L L in series with a regulating resistance 48. The resistance 48 may be regulated to vary the heating effect of element 14. The regulating means is only diagrammatically illustrated as any suitable means may beused for this purpose. For instance,

the resistance 48 may be varied by means of the control device shbwn in the aforementioned patent to Thomas to vary the heating effect. The Wheatstone bridge also receives current from lines L, I as shown.

A resistance element 20, located within D the conduit 13- and another resistance elemeter to adapt'the same to. act upon fluids ment 21 are arranged to be connected selectively in series with the resistance thermoineter 16 under certain desired-conditions.

A switch 22 provides for selective inclusion of said resistances in said circuit at will. Also an adjustable resistance 23 is preferably connected in series with said resistance thermometer 16 to enable calibration oi the of difl'erent basic specific heats and thehke. An additional resistance element 24 is ar-' ranged to be permanently in series with the theremometer resistance 15, whereas a resistance 25 of equal ohmic value is arranged to be connected in series with resistance thermometer 16 to counteract the eflt'ect of resistance 24 during balancing. of the bridge preparatory to. metering. A balancing switch 26 provides for including said balancing resistance 25 in circuit while simultaneously excluding all of resistances 20, 21

and 23 from the bridge circuit, thereby en-- abling balancing of the bridge in the usual manner.

having a, positive temperature co-efiicient, that is to say, being adapted to increase its resistancewith temperature rise. The other resistances on the other hand are of zero temperature co-eflicient.

In the operation of the device the switch Resistance units 20 and 21 are? also of about equal ohmic value, the former 26 is thrown to the'upper position, the heater circuit being open, thus enabling balancing of the bridge in the absence of heat by means of the adjustable resistance 19.

A suitable balance ha been secured,

as indicated by central positioning of the resistancethermometer 16 and excluding the resistance 20 from such circuit.

In such condition the effective temperature difference resistance is that of the resistance element 24 minus that of the resistance element 21 and is a constant value represented bythe line 11 of Fig. 2.

"If under these conditions the chemical constitution of the fluid or other similar basic factor is found to vary in a manner to cause variation in basic specific heat thereof, the resistance 23 ma be adjusted at will to compensate for suc variation, the efi'ect "thereof being that of shifting said line 11 slightly up or down without changing the slope of said line asindicated bythe dotted lines of Fig. 2.

If, however, meter on a fluid whose temperature ranges between, 'for example, and 130 F.,

it is to operate the the switch 22 is moved to its lower position thereby including the resistance element 20- in the circuit of the thermometer resistance 16 and excluding the element 21 from such circuit. Under such conditions the efiective temperature difference resistanceis then the diflerence of the resistance of element 24 minus that of element 20 and since the former of said elements has a. constant resistance value, whereas the latter element has a positive temperature co-eflicient the efl'ective resistance will decreaseas the tgemperature increases, giving the same effect as that (if a negative slope temperature difier ence coil, as illustrated by the line 12 of Figs. 3,4, 5 and 6 are illustrative of a method of and apparatus for securing the aforedescribed corrections automatically, that is to say, without necessitating the aforedescribed changeover fordifferent ranges of basic temperature of the fluid.

all essential respects the same as the construction just described and in the simple except for the difierent construction and arrangement of temperature difi'erence and balancing resistances to be now described.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 3 is in Thomasmeter of the aforeindicated patent double pole switch 26 being be substituted for a portion of the cop er or nickel. Both copper and nickel are a apted to increaw their ohmic resistance with increase in temperature but each in this respect exhibits characteristics different from those of the other. Thus, the curve representing the relation of resistance to temperature of copper is, substantially a straight line as illustrated at 33 Fig. 4, whereas, the correspondingcurve of nickel is substantially parabolic as illustrated at 34 in the same figure, while of course manganin is of substantially zero temperature coeflicient.

The arrangement and proportioning of the two temperature difierence resistances is such that the joint effective value thereof for temperature difierence maintenance is at all times equal to the difl'erence of the ohmic value of resistance 30 less that of resistance 31. Also it is apparent that by suitable proportioning of said resistance elements the curve illustratingsuccessive values of such difference, that is to say the efi'ective temperature difierence resistance, may be caused to follow the aforedescribed curve 10 with substantial accuracy as illustrated at 35 in Fig. 5. Said curve 10, as will be recalled, represents thecondition of perfect temperature difference compensation or correction of all variable factors which are functions of temperature and which tend 'to affect the accuracy of the meterv The method'in which the necessary materials, proportions and co-ordination'of the resistance elements 30 and 31 may be determined is depicted particularly in Fig. 6.

In said figure the curve 34* is a section of the characteristic resistance temperature curve-of nickel wire, the values X, AX and BX represent the value of such resistance at 85" and 110 F., respectively. The

factors-A and B are known orascertainable I constants for any particular supply of such wire. 7 It is thusnecessary to add to the indi- -vi,dual values X, AX and BX other values a, b and respectively taken from'Fig.-4,

.SfllCh that the locus of the three: sums shall i at 33-.-

be a straight line curve such as. indicated This line, being by hypothesis straight and the abscissae between .X and AX, and AK,

' nickel +d manganin) at 110.

and BX being equal it is evident from the relation of similar trian les that (BX+0) (AX+b) 61X+b) '(X+a) therefore BXAXAX+X=b-ac+b and 2b-a-c X B -2A+' 1 For one particularpair of thermometers and for one particular type of as, ,the

values a, band a are known. There ore, the

value of X can be computed as well as AX and BX and then the values for the straight line curve 33 derived from values X-l-a, AX+b,' and BX+0.

If this straight line 33 has a slope equal to or less than that of the resistance temperature curve of, pure copper, the element, 30 will be constructed of copper and manganin in proper proportions to give this slope, and element 31 will be pure nickel. However, if the strai ht line curve 33 for element 30 is steeper t an the curve indicating resistance of pure co per, the manganin will be added to the nic el element 31 and the value' can be determined as follows. (BX a) i (X a).=g which is the constant value increase in ohms .Whichis required of the copper coil 30 from 60 to 110. g=ZH where 'Z=resistance of pure copper resistance element at 60 F. and H is the percentage increase in resistance-of copper from 60 to 110. Therefore,

z=% and Z is the value for a co per resistance element which will give t e desired slope. Z- (X +01) =d which is the value of manganin to be added to the nickel of element 31. Therefore, the values of element 30 are (m+X+d)'at 60 and (b+AX+Z) at 85 and (c+BX+d)- at 110 and this element is pure cop er. The values of element 31 are (X nic el+d' manganin) at 60"and (AX nickel+d manganin) t 85 and (BX.

It is quite evi ent that other materials could be used for he design of these resistance elements and that it is not essential to work for a straight line characteristic,

since a similar solutioncould be used for any a other known regular curve. j

Where the meter or the like is required to act upon or with reference toa gas which,

due to super-heating or other cause, is un-- saturated as regards its vapor content, any.

errors or tendency toward error in'zthe, determinations due to such condition of the fluid may be obviated by the method and ap-' paratus now to .be described.

In accordance with such method it is proposed to arrange, in heat absorbing relation a 35 rors due to unsaturation of the i if desired a plurality of such elements posabsorbing action of the fluid passing such element, whereby obviously said element is subjected to a cooling effectwhich is pro;

portional to the degree of unsaturation of the fluid at the existing temperature, and

' such cooling of said element is utilized to.

effect the necessary correction of the results of the metering action.

Assuming substitution for the element of Fig. 1, of an element adapted to be sub- 5 jected to cooling action in the manner just described, the resistance element 21 bemg omitted or-permanently excluded from circuit, it is apparent that the effective value of temperature difference resistance will be, p 2 as before, the difference-of the ohmic value of element 24 less that of the element so substituted.

It being recalled that the element 24 is of zero temperature coefficient, it is appar- 25 em; that, by proper selection or combination of the materials copper, nickel and manganin in the construction of the element substituted for element 20, the curve representing such value may becaused to exhibit such slope and contour as to coincide substantially with practically any desired portion or range along the ideal curve 10 of Fig. 2, while at all times subjected to the aforedescribed corrective action for obviating ossible eruid. Also sessing different characteristics may be arranged in the relation occupied by the element 20 for inclusion in circuit with the in resistance thermometer 16 selectively by means of a switch similar to switch 22, whereby the device may at will be adjusted according to the basic temperature of the fluid, precisely as explainedin. connection is with Fig. 1'.

The manner of designing and correlating such elements will be ap arent from the description and formulae re ating to Figs. 4, 5 and 6. I

Again assume that a temperature difference resistance element of the type just described besubstituted for the element 31 of Fig. 3, it is apparent that the device as so' modified may be caused to perform all of its aforedescribed functions and also to comeoof apparatus for subjecting a standard form of temperature difference resistance element nfi such cooling action.

In said figure a temperature difference resistanceliousing 40 ofsubstantially stand- 65. ardconstructionis arranged to bescrewed whic the terminal portion of the wick extends. In practice said 'cap is preferably provided with an axially located, threaded internal stud 45 adapted to take within a suitably located tapped recess in. the plug 41, whereby the cap may be screwed home upon the end of the housing for permanentretention of the former while providing a regulable compression of the portion of the wick 42 located between said cap and 11g Y V v 'n elongated tube 46 is arranged within the housing 40, having one end penetrating the plug 41 and the otherend extending through a lateral portion of the housing 40 located exteriorly of the conduit 13 when the housing is assembled therewith. Said tube thus provides for introducing water within the chamber 44 and in contact with the wick 42v for moistening the latter.

The temperature difference resistance element 47 is located within the housing as illustrated, in accordance with standard practice. a

, What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of compensating for variations in the physical properties of a 'ven medium, due to temperature changes t ere-' in, whichconsists in subjecting to said tem- I cal properties throughout the total ran e of said temperature changes, and modi 'ng the-temperature of said medium in accordance with said variations-in differential resistance value of said resistors, said differential resistance value having a negative slope characteristic throughout a given portion of said total range.

2. The math d of determining the rate of flow of afluid which consists in maintaining a substantially constant thermal change in the fluid between two controlling thermometer resistances located therein, and adding to the resistance of each of saidther- "mometer resistances an auxiliary resistance which is variable in accordance with variations in temperature thereof to compensatev for variations which would otherwise'occur within the range 'in temperature throughout which the meteris efi'ective, said auxiliary resistances being diflerentially related and being so constructed as to provide a negative slope characteristic of the difier ential value thereof under given temperature conditions.

3. The method of determiningthe'rate of flow of fluids which consist in causing heat interchan e between a body and the fluid, varying t e rate of heat interchan' e in response to variations in the rate flow of the fluid to maintain a substantially constant thermal change of the fluid in its passage between two thermometer resistances arranged one on each. side of said body, and adding to the resistance of each thermometer resistance a resistance to compensate for errors which would otherwise occur within the range in temperature throughout which the meter is effective, at least one of said last mentioned resistances being variable in accordance with variations in temperature thereof whereby the differential resistance value of said last mentioned resistances has a negative slope characteristic.

4. In a fluid meter, a heating element for imparting heat to the fluid flowing therethrou h, two resistance thermometers arrange( i one on each side of said heating element, and means for automatically varying theresistance of the circuits in which the respective thermometers are connected in accordance with variations in the temperature of the fluid to be heated to compensate for errors which would otherwise occur within the range in temperature throughout which the meter is effective, said means comprising a pair of'auxiliary resistance elements to be connected in series with the respectivethermometers and each arranged inthe path of the flowing fluid, said auxilsaidfluid on opposite 0.

j 5. In a imparting heat-to the fluid owing thereiar resistance "elements having relatively di erent temperature-resistance coeflicients to rovide a negative slopecharacteristic 'of their differential resistance value under given temperature conditions. Y

uid meter, a heatin elemntfor through, a Wheatstone bridge, apalr ofci-je sistances connected in two of the respective arms thereof and arrangied'in the path of element, and a pair of auxiliary resistances connected in series, with said first'mentioned resistances respectively and so located that their temperatures vary with the temper- .aturesof said first mentioned resistances respectively, said auxiliary resistances having coo ratlvely related temperature-resistance .coe cients such that the differential resistof the same resistance material, and a pair ofauxiliary resistances connected in series with the respective resistance thermometers and each arran ed in said flowing body of fluid, said auxi 'ary resistances being con-' structed of materials which vary their resistances in different characteristm manners in accordance with variations in temper- .ature thereof to thereby compensate for variations in the specific heat and/or vapor content of the fluid upon ariations in the basic temperature of the latter within the range in temperature throughout which the meter is effective. a

7. In a fluid meter, a pair of resistance thermometers for measurlng the difl'erence in temperature of two different points in a flowing body of fluid, said thermometers being substantially similar and constructed In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.

"CLARENCE s. PINKERTON, VVILBUR H. GREENWOOD.

es of saidheating ance value thereof has 'a negative slope char in temperature of two difierent points, in a acteristic within a givenrange in temperature variations of said fluid. 6. In a .fluid meter, a pair of resistance thermometers for measuring the diflerence flowing body of fluid, said thermometers being substantially similar and. constructed 

